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MSMEs across India are gaining more visibility thanks to their contribution to employment and country’s growth. However, in the midst of this, it can get difficult for companies to compete with other small and medium businesses. In this digital age, enterprises need to constantly contribute to marketing efforts to remain relevant. Today, we will discuss the top strategies for digital marketing for MSMEs.
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As per the report by ASSOCHAMIndia, the Indian MSME contribution to GDP (Gross Domestic Product) increased to 22% in 2020. With the increased number of medium and small enterprises, MSME digital marketing strategies need to be robust and effective. Let us now understand how we can start with digital marketing for MSME. The below-mentioned guide will include budget-friendly planning and suggestions for efficient tools and platforms.
Digital Marketing for MSME — Starting Steps
Marketing is a predefined strategy with a step-by-step plan that results in achieving brand awareness and sales goals. Micro, small, and Medium-Sized businesses (MSMEs) can use marketing tactics for small businesses like blogging, email marketing, and social media advertising to make more sales and more money.
Let us look at the initial steps for successful digital marketing for MSMEs.
Define Your Goals
Clearly define your business objectives and what you want to achieve through digital marketing. Whether it's increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales, having clear goals will guide your strategy.
Know Your Target Audience
Identify your target audience to tailor your marketing efforts. Understand their demographics, interests, online behavior, and pain points. This information will guide your content creation and help you choose the right digital channels.
Create a User-Friendly Website
Ensure your website is professional, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines (SEO). A well-designed website is crucial for establishing credibility and converting visitors into customers.
Optimize for Local Search
If your business serves a local area, optimise your website for local search. Get your Google My Business page, make sure the information is accurate, and ask customers to leave reviews.
Utilize Social Media
As a new-age business, you need to be at the top of the social media game. Whether it is a B2B marketing strategy for LinkedIn or a D2C social media plan, a marketing strategist can help you achieve your goals.
Monitor Key Metrics
Business owners and social media managers must implement analytics tools such as Google Analytics to track marketing performance. By analysing data and monitoring key metrics, MSMEs can track preferences and gain insights. Thereafter, they adjusted their strategy accordingly.
Now that we know everything about the first steps towards building a successful MSME marketing strategy, let us understand the steps to implementation.
Fundamental Tools and Platforms
Website development, social media management, search engine optimisation and lead generation are the fundamental aspects of a marketing plan. Marketing tools can come in handy when it comes to developing and promoting your business. We will now talk about the top marketing tools for effective and efficient results.
The following is a list of user-friendly and cost-effective platforms to help you maintain a consistent online presence:
Website Development:
WordPress
A user-friendly and cost-effective platform for building and managing websites. Numerous themes and plugins are available to enhance functionality without a hefty price tag.
Social Media Management:
Buffer or Hootsuite
These tools allow you to schedule and manage social media posts across different platforms, helping you maintain a consistent online presence. They offer free plans with basic features.
Email Marketing:
Mailchimp
An easy-to-use email marketing platform that offers a free plan for businesses with a limited number of subscribers. It provides essential features for creating and sending email campaigns.
Content Creation and Design:
Canva
A versatile graphic design tool with a free version that provides templates for social media posts, presentations, posters, and more.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Google Analytics
A powerful analytics tool that is free to use and provides insights into website traffic, user behavior, and more. It's essential for understanding the performance of your digital marketing efforts.
Keyword Research:
Google Keyword Planner
This tool helps you identify relevant keywords for your business and understand their search volumes. It's part of Google Ads and is free to use.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
HubSpot CRM
A free CRM tool that helps you manage customer relationships, track leads, and organise sales activities.
Online Advertising:
Google Ads
Create targeted online advertising campaigns based on your budget. Start with a modest budget and optimise your campaigns as you gather data on what works.
With the help of the effective marketing tools mentioned above, small and medium enterprises can create an edgy digital marketing strategy for MSME.
Budget-friendly Planning
While digital marketing by MSME can dig a hole in your pocket, hiring a digital marketing strategist can prove to be very helpful. Consider associating with 26Tech to find cost-effective ways to market your products and services. Apart from the above mentioned tips, tricks and tools, there are various other budget-friendly ways to elevate your marketing efforts.
1. Networking and Community Engagement:
Local Events: Attend or host local events to network with potential customers and other businesses. Building relationships within your community can lead to word-of-mouth referrals.
Online Communities: Participate in online forums and groups related to your industry. Contribute valuable insights and establish your expertise in the field.
2. Educational Webinars or Workshops:
Webinars: Host online webinars or workshops to share your expertise. This positions your business as an authority in your industry and can attract potential customers.
3. Content Marketing:
Blogging: Create a blog on your website and publish informative and relevant content. Blogging is a cost-effective way to improve your website's SEO and attract organic traffic.
Video Content: Leverage the power of video content. You don't need a professional studio; a smartphone and some creativity can go a long way. Platforms like YouTube and social media are great for sharing videos.
4. Customer Referral Program:
Referral Incentives: Implement a customer referral program where existing customers receive incentives for referring new customers. Word-of-mouth referrals can be a powerful and cost-effective way to acquire new business.
At 26Tech, we aim to achieve marketing goals through cost-effective techniques and years of expertise. Our goal is to help small businesses follow a robust marketing strategy to fulfil organizational targets. The customised marketing solutions are designed in a logical and result-oriented manner to achieve the best results.